Defining a molecular signature of breast cancer circulating tumor cells using an in vitro model

In this study, we have developed an in vitro model of CTCs by using non-adherent suspension culture. We used this model to study a group of breast cancer cell lines with distinct molecular subtypes (TNBC and ER+/PR+). MCF7 and MB-231 cells were cultured in either a monolayer or a non-adherent suspension culture for seven days at 37°C/ 5% CO2 prior to harvest. One experiment was performed for each culture condition (MCF7-Monolayer (M7M), MCF7-Suspension (M7S), MB-231-Monolayer (M231M), MB-231 Suspension (M231S).